Application Issues

Creating Unique Application Symbols and Names

There are a number of names and symbols (such as application symbols, package names, and soup names) that need to be unique among applications. There is a mechanism for avoiding conflict:

The symbols or strings that must be unique end with a colon (:) and then a particular unique portion of the signature. Such a scheme guarantees signature uniqueness; each developer can generate unique symbols and names for every product developed (for example, "ProductA:Signature" and "ProductB:Signature").

Here are some examples that utilize the registered signature "Calliope". These are the symbols and names that must be unique to a particular application.

Application symbol
Among other things, there is a slot in the root view with this symbol value that points at the base view of the application. For example, '|Bookstore:Calliope|.

Package name
A string that distinguishes this package from all others. For example, "Bookstore:Calliope".

Soup name
For example, "Bookstore:Calliope".

System soup tag
Any preferences data an application stores is stored in the "System" soup with a tag slot containing a unique string. The user won't normally see this. For example, "Bookstore:Calliope".

Extra slots in existing soups
When an application wants to add a slot to entries in the "Names" soup, for instance, it would create a frame with its application symbol. You then add data to that frame. For example, '|Bookstore:Calliope|.

Routing formats
Applications that support printing or faxing add a frame to the root view. For example, '|Bookstore:Calliope|.

To register your unique signature with Apple Computer, Inc., you will need the following information:

Send the information to:

newtondev@newton.apple.com

or:
Newton SysOp
c/o: Apple Computer, Inc.
1 Infinite Loop, M/S 305-2A
Cupertino, CA 95014


An online version of Programming for the Newton using Macintosh, 2nd ed. ©1996, 1994, Julie McKeehan and Neil Rhodes.

Last modified: 1 DEC 1996